Thanks to a recent effort by area Realtors, a smoke detector-distribution campaign will resume this week in Mount Airy.
An effort has been under way by Mount Airy Fire Department members since 2014 to provide smoke alarms for free to homes lacking workable devices, which is rotated among different neighborhoods.
However, it was threatened this year due to funding that supplied the detectors being slashed by the N.C. Department of Insurance.
This meant a local effort, credited with triggering an escape from at least one burning home in recent years, would be discontinued — that is, until the Surry Regional Association of Realtors stepped forward to contribute 100 smoke alarms.
That is allowing the next phase of the giveaway to occur on Wednesday through Friday of this week from 5 to 8 p.m. each day.